Electric switch.



O. M. KNUBLOGK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11. 1913.

1,123,758. Patented Jan.5,1915.

OTTO M. KNOBLOCK, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA- ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed December 11, 1913. Serial No. 805,808.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orro M. KNOBLOGK, citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The particular object of the present invention is to provide a switch that can be used in a plurality of electric circuits and be adjusted to complete a certain circuit or a plurality of circuits as desired, whereby the one switch will take the place and do the work of several independent switches.

Another object is to construct a switch of this character that will be cheap to manufacture, easy to operate and with a contact plunger that can be readily removed to prevent malicious tampering with the control devices.

These and other objects are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure l is a perspective view of the improved switch. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the spring contact plate. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the contact plunger.

Like reference numerals in all of the figures of the drawings designate like parts.

In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the base 10 is provided with an integral housing 11 formed of non-conducting material, said housing being shorter than the length of said base and arranged relative thereto to leave the corners of the base exposed, whereby suitable apertures 12 can be provided for the reception of suitable fastening devices. The housing 11 is providedwith a longitudinal angular recess 13, in which a contact plunger 14, angular in cross section, is adapted to reciprocate, said plunger being made of non-conducting material and having fixed in one face two transverse contact strips 15 and 16. Plunger 14: is also provide with notches 18 in its vertical side walls, which are adapted to be engaged by the spring stops 19 located in recess 20 formed in the housing. Indicatin characters are provided on the 11 per s1 e of said plunger, the same adapte to be observed through an aperture 21 formed 111 top of the housing.

A recess 22 is formed in the base and housing adapted to receive the base-block 23, the same being provided with apertures 24 for the reception of screws to secure said base-block in the recess 22. Sprin contacts 26, 27, 28 and 29 are mounte upon said base-block 23 and their contacting upper portions slightly project into alinement with the recess 13, so that, when the plunger 1s inserted in said recess 13, said contacting upper portions will 'slidably engage the underside of said plunger. Said spring contacts are arranged upon the base-block 23 in a manner that they will contact with the plunger two abreast, in other words, forming pairs. Suitable fastening means are provided for securing the spring-contacts upon the base-block and also serve as the wire terminals as usual. Apertures 30 are formed in the base block adjacent said spring-contacts, through which the wires are passed.

In operation, it will be obvious that when the plunger is forced to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the indicating character 1 is seen through the sight aperture 21, the plunger contact 15 will span the spring contacts 26 and 27 closing the right-hand circuit in which said sprlng contacts are connected. From this position should the plunger be moved to the right, a neutral position will be assumed when no connection would be made, and is moved to the left to the central notches 18 where a: would be exposed, both plunger plates 15 and 16 would contact with the spring contacts 28, 29 and 26, 27, respectively, closing two circuits. If the plunger be now moved another notch'to the left, exposing indicating numeral 2, contact plate 16 would engage spring contacts 28 and 29 and close the lefthand circuit, and if moved farther to the left, another neutral position will be obtained. Thus it will be seen, that by shifting the plunger bar back and forth, two circuits can be closed or either one or the other of the two selected.

It will be understood, that when it is desired and where more than two circuits are used, other contacts can be added to the switch, such, for instance, as that shown at 17, whereby contacts 28 and 26 in longitudinal alinement can be connected.

A switch of this character can be utilized for numerous purposes, and as the present invention relates solely to the switch, none of the mentioned circuits have been outlined. I

It will be observed that the contact plunger is freely movable in either direction, and canbe readily inserted and removed from either end of the housing and can be carried in the pocket, making the switch inoperative and unpickable.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A switch of the character described, comprising a base formed with an integral closed housing having a horizontal opening therethrough, a removable base block for said base, a plurality of pairs. of spring contacts secured to said base block, and a contact plunger constructed to slide in said opening over and in engagement'with said spring contacts and removable endwise from said closed housing at either side thereof,

2. A switch of the character described, comprising a base formed with an integral housing having a horizontal opening there-- through and a vertical aperture in its top connecting with said horizontal opening, a

removable base block for said base, a plu-,

rality of pairs of spring contacts secured to-said base block, and a contact plunger constructed to slide in said opening over structed to slide in said opening over and in engagement with said spring contacts, removable endwise from said housing at either side thereof, and provided with indicating characters perceptible through said I vertical aperture, and cooperating means on said housing and plunger and in horizontal alinement therewith for retaining said plunger in its adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTTO M. KNOBLOCK.

Witnesses:

J. STARR KNOBLOCK, J. C. Hrss. 

